Posthaste Facts on the Environment #1

Are Americans responsible for presumed increases in the earth's
temperature? The U.S. is the #1 "greenhouse gas" emitter. But --
that's only part of the story.

Environmentalists claim that the U.S is responsible for 20% of the world's "greenhouse
gas" emissions. This figure is meaningless. The U.S. also possesses the
world's largest, most productive economy. The true measure of a nation's
environmental responsibility is not how much "greenhouse" gas it
emits, but the proportion of these emissions to its economic output. Consider:

The U.S., ranked the world's #1 "greenhouse" gas polluter, emitted
an estimated 5,163 million tons of such gases in 1991. For every million tons,
the U.S. economy was $946.24 million strong.

Canada, a country believed to be environmentally conscious, emitted 491
million tons of "greenhouse" gases. Its economy was just $896.36
million per million tons.

Czechoslovakia, ranked the #20 "greenhouse" gas polluter, emitted
202 million tons of such gases. Its economy was just $609.9 billion per
million tons.

Zaire, ranked #78, emitted 195 million tons of gas. Its economy was $29.3
million per million tons.

Australia, ranked #14, emitted 313 million tons of gas. Its economy was
$651.8 million per million tons.

Brazil, ranked #10, emitted 1,720 million tons of gas. Its economy was
$181 million per million tons.